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Photo: Anakinvw at Dutch Wikipedia, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
With its strong socialist tradition, Ghent is laden with historic buildings testifying to power of the social-democratic movement. The cooperative 'Vooruit' (Progress) was running shops, bakeries, a newspaper, a cinema and a cultural centre for the labour movement. Some of the buildings are exquisite examples of late 19th- and early 20th-century art nouveau and art deco. Main examples can be found on Vrijdagsmarkt (the headquarter 'Ons Huis' (Our House) still in use today by the trade union) and the Kunstencentrum Vooruit on Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat, cultural temple of the labour movement and today in use as an Arts Centre and concert hall.
Vooruit is a historic complex in Ghent, Belgium. Vooruit was originally the festival and art centre of the Ghent-based labour movement, with a ballroom, cinema, theatre, etc. It is now mainly used for concerts and other cultural events.
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This béguinage (begijnhof) has several streets.
St. Bavo's Cathedral
Don't miss this cathedral. Rather unimpressive exterior of Romanesque, Gothic, and baroque architecture. However, the interior is filled with priceless paintings and sculptures, including the 24-panel altarpiece The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, completed by Jan van Eyck in 1432. Simply spellbinding, this work was commissioned by a wealthy city alderman in 1420. Original altarpiece Adoration of Mystic Lamb is temporarily and partially closed. Since 2010 a scientific study and conservation works have been in progress. Visitors can follow the activities through a glass wall). Other art treasures in the cathedral include Rubens's restored The Conversion of St. Bavo from 1623. Augmented Reality (AR) tour of the crypt is available in 9 languages. However, the kids version of the AR tour is only available in Dutch, French and English.
Belfry and Cloth Hall
The Belfry was a symbol of the city's autonomy, begun in 1313 and completed in 1380. This municipal tower holds the great bells that have rung out Ghent's civic pride through the centuries. Take the elevator to the Belfry's upper gallery, 66 m high, to see the bells and take in fantastic panoramic views of the city. The Cloth Hall dates from 1425 and was the gathering place of wool and cloth merchants.
St Nicholas's Church
A mixture of surviving Romanesque elements of the Flemish architectural style known as Schelde Gothic, the impressive 13th- to 15th-century church was paid for by Ghent's wealthy medieval merchants and guilds. It has undergone extensive renovation work that's still ongoing. The tower is one of the "three towers of Ghent" - in fact, it was the first of the three to grace the city skyline.
Stadhuis
There is a Gothic facade facing the street Hoogpoort and a Renaissance facade facing the street Botermarkt. (Botermarkt literally means butter market.) Indoors, there are different styles. The belfry is a .
An 1880 Art Deco pool restored in 2001, it that retains individual changing rooms. The old entrance is still there but the modern entrance is at the opposite end of the building.